Love & Redemption
Chapter 112: Volume 3 Heartless Xuanji - 19 This Love Must Ask the Heavens (7)

Chapter 112: Volume 3 Heartless Xuanji Chapter 19 This Love Must Ask the Heavens (7)

Yu Sifeng and his two companions carried out their operation on another side, and they were much more careful and cautious, not possessing the abilities of the Heavenly Eye, they had to be constantly vigilant against being spotted by the guards.

After walking for a while, Yu Sifeng suddenly looked around, then turned back to signal Xuanji: "Come here, over this way."

Xuanji and Ruo Yu, not understanding his intentions, both made their way over, with Ruo Yu expressing his confusion: "Isn’t that the opposite direction from where Brother Liu pointed us?"

Yu Sifeng replied with a gentle smile, "We’ll take a little detour, it’s alright, we’ll get there soon."

Ruo Yu, puzzled by what he intended to do, had no choice but to follow. The three of them weaved their way through the mansion, thankfully Yu Sifeng seemed extremely familiar with the layout, never once getting lost.

"Si Feng, have you been here before?" Xuanji couldn’t help but ask. She couldn’t imagine Yu Sifeng as the type to sneak into the home of the wealthy by night; he had always been a paragon of good behavior.

Yu Sifeng whispered, "I’ve stayed with Brother Liu in Qingyang for a while, and when he had nothing else to do... he liked to visit the Zhou Residence’s garden to enjoy the night scene, and I often accompanied him."

So it was all because of that Liu Yihuan, who truly had a knack for causing trouble.

"We’re here." Yu Sifeng stopped in front of the study, looked around to make sure no one was present, then quietly pulled out his sword and silently twisted off the lock on the door, which creaked open as they pushed, releasing a musty smell into their faces.

"Wow... does anyone ever come here?" Xuanji covered her nose and peered into the room with the help of the moonlight, only to see dust everywhere, cobwebs linking every corner, wondering how many years it had been since anyone had cleaned it. When the door was opened, there was rustling inside, probably the nest of mice being disturbed as they all scattered.

"Don’t let appearances fool you, this is where the Zhou Residence keeps their treasures."

Yu Sifeng took Xuanji by the hand, used his sword to clear away the cobwebs above, and the three of them sneaked in carefully. They saw that all the furniture was covered with white cloths that had turned a yellowish-grey with age. Behind the main room’s window was a small door with dusty bead curtains hanging over it, and talisman paper was densely plastered on it, making one wonder what was being sealed inside. In such a quiet, deep night, seeing the talisman paper in an old, abandoned study of a noble house gave off a sense of deep mystery.

Yu Sifeng also seemed to hold a great deal of reverence towards those talisman papers, not daring to get too close. He only led the two closer, whispering, "Behind the curtain is that treasure."

Seeing nothing but darkness inside, Xuanji could only say, "I... I can’t see what’s in there. What is it?"

Yu Sifeng lit a Fire Stick, brightening the room, revealing that behind the curtain was a small space with a human-height shelf covered in white cloth, which also had numerous talisman papers stuck to it.

What was that? Xuanji suddenly felt a thumping in her heart, as if a distant and familiar feeling was washing over her—what was that?

"I also heard it from Brother Liu, this is a treasure left behind in the human world by the Ancient Gods, known as the Eight Desolate Tribulation Mirror. It knows the ins and outs of all things in the world and understands the past lives and karmic causes of all beings. Unfortunately, these talisman papers are quite peculiar, and even ordinary people cannot touch them, otherwise, it would be nice to sneak a peek."

Yu Sifeng extinguished the Fire Stick, seeing that Xuanji was staring at the mirror in a daze, he chuckled lightly, "This is as close as we can look. You absolutely must not touch it with your hands, or there will be big trouble."

Xuanji felt his voice was nearby, yet it seemed very distant; she couldn’t make it out clearly. All her attention was captured by the object concealed beneath the white cloth.

A feeling of familiarity... a very familiar sensation... as if she could once again smell gunfire, the rumbling sounds of armored cavalry, certain deeply buried things within her were starting to stir.

What was it? What in the world was it?

Someone was softly calling to her: Come... come here... come closer...

She was beguiled by that enchanting voice, slowly raising her hand, and lifted the bead curtain.

"Xuanji must not touch it!" Yu Sifeng urgently whispered, his voice suddenly cut off—the talisman paper, as soon as she touched it, burst into flames, gently shattered, and turned to ash.

She lifted the bead curtain and, as if possessed, walked in. She raised her hand slowly and took down the piece of white cloth. Beneath the white cloth was an ancient copper mirror, surrounded by the four divine beasts—Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Xuanwu. The bronze mirror in the center was only as big as two plates put together, its surface shimmering and rippling, and curiously, standing in front of it, not even a single shadow was cast.

That voice whispered softly, as though singing, caressing her ear, murmuring to her: Come look... Come see me...

She looked up at the center of the copper mirror; the rippling mist within it gradually cleared, revealing an exceptionally clear face of a woman, with well-shaped eyebrows and red lips, her skin as pure as the ice and Liuli. Looking down while speaking something, suddenly her gaze lifted and met hers—those eyes were like crushed ice, devoid of any warmth or emotion.

In Xuanji’s heart, it felt as if something struck her harshly. Countless voices and images surged like a torrent; she stood there, at a loss, watching those memories, familiar yet unfamiliar, and for a moment she couldn’t distinguish if it was a dream or reality.

’Considering your numerous merits, you only need to bow your head and admit your guilt to be freed from the recurring torment of the dire calamity. Why are you so stubborn?’

Someone asked her coldly.

’Perhaps she has lost her nature in constant killing... Still, she is a great contributor who has just ascended to the Upper Realm after attaining her just fruits. At this moment, let’s not treat her with the extreme penalty.’

’You tell us! For this kind of matter, do you really need to rely on others to speak good of you?’

Her heart chilled; she stared blankly at the woman in white. She was completely bound, yet her demeanor was unmoved, showing no sign of dishevelment. The ice-cold eyes swept over her, and with icy austerity, she parted her red lips and said something softly.

Xuanji felt as if her heart was being pierced by a thousand arrows, and it seemed as though countless tiny swords were stabbing inside her head. She couldn’t help but let out a low moan from her throat, clutching her head.

She said, "Everything I have done was at your behest, without even the allowance for doubt. Now, why do you question whether I am right or wrong?"

Other voices in the mirror roared in anger, thoroughly presumptuous. A subject so defiant deserved the extreme penalty, to suffer the torments of eternal calamity as a warning to others.

She didn’t understand, really didn’t understand. Was everything she did really wrong? What is right, and what is wrong? The Heavenly Dao is vast and indistinct, always so many voices guiding her, this is right, that is wrong. You cannot have your own voice, cannot be disobedient, cannot be disrespectful... There are so many things you cannot do, then what is allowed?

So she could only scoff, "If I am to die, then let me die!"

Yu Sifeng and the other saw her standing in front of the copper mirror, dazed, not knowing what she had seen, suddenly clutching her head in agony. Just as they were about to rush in to support her, unexpectedly, she fell back—fainting!

Yu Sifeng could no longer heed the taboo of talisman paper, sprinted forward in a flash to catch her, only to see her eyes tightly shut, her brows furrowed, her face full of agony.

"Xuanji?!" he called out anxiously, gently tapping her face a couple of times, yet she showed no response, heavily leaning in his embrace, as though she had fallen asleep. Ruo Yu also hurried over to check on her, taking her pulse. After a while, he said, "She has fainted, it seems she has been triggered by something."

He lifted his gaze to the ancient copper mirror and wondered aloud, "What exactly did she see inside?"

Having said that, he stood up himself, preparing to look inside when he suddenly felt the small dragon horn hanging on his chest vibrating violently, emitting a low, dragon-like sound. Startled, both exchanged glances, realizing something was wrong with Liu Yihuan. (To be continued, for further information please visit www.qidian.com. More Chapters are available there to support the author and for a genuine reading experience!)